Transcript the Mandate of Heaven and the Civil Service

China’s Ancient Political SystemThe Mandate of Heaven & the Civil Service Examinations
Wanli Hu, Ph.D.
The University of Massachusetts Boston
Questions
• Why does the U.S. adopt a democratic
system?
• Why does China adopt an authoritarian
system?
• What are the essential factors that determine
a country’ political system?
Why has China’s authoritarian rule lasted for
thousands of years, even continuing today?
I.
The relationship between China’s geographic
conditions and the authoritarian rule
• Geographic determination
• Historical legend
II. The foundation of the authoritarian rule
• Ideology: the Mandate of Heaven
• Institution: the Civil Service Examinations
III. A comparison between the Mandate of Heaven and
John Locke’s Natural Rights theory
I-1. The Relationship between Geographic Conditions and the
Authoritarian Rule
Karl Marx: the “Oriental” society, “Asiatic mode of production”
“东方社会” “亚细亚生产方式”
Karl Wittfogel: “Hydraulic society,” “Oriental despotism”
“水系社会”“东方专制制度”
Chinese civilization is a big river civilization. The Yellow River gave
birth to this civilization, and affected its way of life and its political
development.
The Yellow River - China’s Sorrow- is a suspended river that flooded
more than 1590 times and changed course 26 times from 602 BCE to
1938 CE
Part of the Yellow River in Kaifeng
Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, 256 BCE
Built largely in the 7th and 13th
centuries, the Grand Canal of
China connects the cities of
Beijing and Hangzhou. The
canal covers a distance of
1,900 km (1,200 mi) and
is still in use today.
Conclusion
The needs of controlling flooding of the
Yellow River, irrigation projects and
water transportation required a strong
and centralized government
I-2. A legendary story about the birth of the authoritarian rule
Three sage kings:
•Yao
• Shun
•Yu
Da Yu, Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia Dynasty (ca.
2205-1766), the beginning of the family rule, and
authoritarian rule.
II-1. The foundation of China’s Political System: the Mandate of
Heaven and the Civil Service
The legitimacy and power of the ruler comes from Heaven on the
condition that he should follow the will of Heaven. Heaven would be
displeased and give the Mandate of Heaven to someone else if the
ruler fails his commitment.
Duke of Zhou (ca. 1122-221 BCE.), a younger brother of King Wu,
and regent of King Cheng, is said to create this concept.
Confucius (551-479 BCE)
“Let the ruler be a ruler and the subject a subject; let the father be a
father and the son a son.” The ruler - father’s role
Basic concept that good government was fundamentally a matter of
ethics. He did not question the hereditary right of the lords to rule, but
he insisted that their first duty was to set a proper example of sound
ethical conduct.
Mencius (370-290 BCE)
Kingly way, a moral king is characterized by his benevolence toward
his people.
The relationship between the ruler and his people is that between a
boat and water
Dong Zhongshu (179-104 BCE)
Farming ceremony in spring in the Qing Dynasty
Mao Lost his Mandate of Heaven in 1976
• Premier Zhou Enlai passed away on January 8, 1976
• The Tiananmen Square demonstration against the Gang
Four and Mao’s Cultural Revolution
• The earthquake at Tangshan on July 28 killed 250,000
people
• Mao passed away on September 9, 1976
of
Questions
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What are advantages of the authoritarian rule
What are its disadvantages?
What do Chinese respect “rule by a saint?”
Why do Americans respect “rule by law?”
What is their different understanding of
human nature between Chinese &
Americans?
Civil Service Recruitment through Examinations
Chart of Civil Service Examination
The Civil Service Examinations
History
Originated in 124 BCE (the Western Han)
Reformulated in the 6th century (the Sui, 581-618 CE)
Institutionalized in the Tang Dynasty (618-917 CE)
Ended in 1905 CE (the Qing Dynasty)
Curricula
Classics with focus on Confucianism
Five classics: Classic of Changes, Classic of Poetry, Classic of Rites
Classic of History, and Spring and Autumn Annals （周易、诗经、尚书、礼记、春秋）
Four Books: Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects of Confucius, and Mencius
(大学，中庸，论语，孟子）
law, calligraphy and Math
Significance
Meritocracy replaced aristocracy and it institutionalized governmental organization and
management
*See the film
Questions
• What are advantages of the Civil Service
Examination?
• What are its disadvantages?
• What are its impact on Chinese culture and
society?
中国科举文化之意义
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中国科学制度是中国历史上的考试选拔官员的一种基本制度。他渊源于汉朝
，创始于隋朝，确立于唐朝，完备于宋朝，兴盛于明、清两朝，废除于清朝
末年，历经隋、唐、宋、元、明、清。根据史书记载，从隋朝大业元年（
605）的进士科算起到光绪三十一年（1905）正式废除，整整绵延存在了
1300周年。
中国科举制度的产生是历史的必然和一大进步，它所一直坚持的是“自由报
名、公开考试、平等竞争、择优取仕”的原则，它对我国古代社会的选官制
度，特别是对汉代的察举和征辟制、魏晋南北朝的九品中正制，是一个直接
有力的替代和否定，给广大中小地主和平民百姓通过科举的阶梯而入仕以登
上历史的政治舞台，提供了一个公平竞争的平台、机会和条件。因此说，科
举制度是中国历史上，也是世界历史上最具开创性和平等性的官吏人才选拔
制度。
在漫长的1300年的科举考试中，曾产生出700多名状元、近11万名进士、数
百万名举人（至于秀才就更不计其数了）。隋唐以后，几乎每一位知识分子
都与科举考试有着不解之缘和密切关系，从未参加过科学考试的是极少数。
中国历史上，善于治安邦的名臣、名相，有杰出贡献的政治家、思想家、文
学家、艺术家、科学家、外交家、军事家等大都出自状元、进士和举人之中
。http://www.ccnt.com.cn/htm/kjwh/show.php?col=01&file=01_0001
The Impact of the Civil Service upon the West
France:
1789: Introduced the civil service to replace royal service
1840s: Reestablished
Britain:
1806: The British East India Company adopted this system
1853: The Organization of the Permanent Civil Service
1855: The First Civil Service Commission
The U.S.:
1868: Thomas A. Janckes proposed to adopt civil service
Ralph Waldo Emerson supported this proposal
1883: The Congress passed the law of civil service
Part III. A comparison between the Mandate of Heaven & John Locke’s
Natural Rights theory (1632-1704 CE)
"...he that will not give just occasion to think that all government
in the world is the product only of force and violence, and that
men live together by no other rules but that of beasts, where the
strongest carries it...must of necessity find another rise of
government, another original of political power..."
---from The Second Treatise of Civil Government
The Natural Rights vs. the Divine Rights of Kings
III. A Comparison between the Mandate of Heaven & John Locke’s
Natural Rights Theory
•Where does the ruler’s power come from?
•What is the ruler’s responsibility?
•How is transition of power made if the ruler fails his duty?
The Mandate of Heaven
(12th Century BCE)
John Locke’s Natural Rights
17th Century CE)
1. Power comes from Heaven, a Godlike deity
Power comes from the ruled
2. Maintain harmony between
Heaven, Earth and Mankind
Maintain the order of the society
Serve people’s interests and welfare
Bring benevolence to the people
3. People are justified to overthrow
the ruler through rebellions if he fails
his duty
4. China’s dynastic cycle
People are justified to overthrow
the ruler through rebellions if he fails
his duty
Justified the British Revolution and the
American Revolution
Function of the Mandate of Heaven and the Civil Examination Service
China’s authoritarian rule is largely a product of China’s geographic conditions. The
Mandate of Heaven is an ideology that not only empowers the ruler legitimacy to rule,
but also makes the government be responsible to his subjects and people.
The civil service through examinations is an institutional guarantee for a ruler to draw
into his government talented and learned individuals who might be otherwise a
potential threat.
Disadvantages:
The Mandate of Heaven led to rule of man rather than rule of law.
The civil service stresses classics and moral principles, and it gives little attention to
officials’ capacity to solve practical problems. The government would be in crisis
when foreign invasions or social disturbances happens. There is not breakthrough in
society. The best solution is dynastic cycle.
Conclusion
The authoritarian rule of China is largely a
product of its geographic conditions & historical
tradition.
The Mandate of Heaven and the Civil Service
Examinations facilitated to implement this
political rule.
The authoritarian rule needs changes and
improvement, but it works in China.